Toys and children's products · CPSC
Importing toys into the United States
Toys enter free of base duty, but CPSC rules are strict. Since July 8, 2026, certificate data must go into the entry. Allied CHB, a licensed customs broker, files the entry and the CPSC eFiling data.
Agencies
Which agencies regulate toys?
- CPSC
Children's Product Certificate
For a toy made abroad, the importer issues the Children's Product Certificate (16 CFR 1110.7). It must rest on tests by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab, plus periodic tests (16 CFR 1107.21). - CPSC
eFiling since July 8, 2026
Certificate data must be filed in ACE with the entry (16 CFR 1110.13). You can send the full data, or reference a certificate saved in the CPSC Product Registry. ACE accepts an entry without the data, but CPSC can still act on it. - CPSC
Toy safety rules
Toys must meet ASTM F963-23 (16 CFR Part 1250). Lead in paint is limited to 90 ppm (16 CFR Part 1303), and lead in the material to 100 ppm. Eight phthalates are limited to 0.1 percent (16 CFR Part 1307). Toys for children under 3 must have no small parts (16 CFR Part 1501). - CPSC
Tracking marks and warnings
Each toy and its package needs permanent tracking marks: the maker or private labeler, the place and date of production, and batch data (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(5)). Toys with small parts for ages 3 to 6 need the choking-hazard warning (16 CFR 1500.19). - CBP
Trademarks and counterfeits
CBP detains, and can seize, toys that bear a recorded trademark without authorization, such as licensed characters (19 CFR Part 133). - CBP
Duty and forced labor
Toys enter free of base duty. Since July 24, 2026, goods of the 60 listed economies pay the Section 301 forced labor duty. CBP also enforces the UFLPA and withhold release orders.
HTS and duties
Which HTS chapters and duties apply in 2026?
| HTS | Goods | Base duty | Chapter 99 duties in effect (September 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9503.00.00 | Toys: dolls, plush, puzzles, building sets, ride-on toys, scale models | Free | Forced labor duty applies. No Section 301 China list duty (List 4B never took effect). |
| 9504.50 | Video game consoles and machines | Free | Forced labor duty applies. No Section 301 China list duty. |
| 9504.40, 9504.90 | Playing cards, board games, chess and other table games | Free | Forced labor duty applies. China: some 9504.90 lines 7.5 percent (List 4A). |
| 9505.10 | Christmas decorations and ornaments | Free | Forced labor duty applies. China: glass ornaments 7.5 percent (List 4A). Most other lines have no China list duty. |
| 9505.90 | Halloween, party and magic articles | Free | Forced labor duty applies. No Section 301 China list duty. |
Base duty is the column 1 general rate in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. A trade agreement can lower it. The rate for your goods depends on the full 10-digit number and the country of origin.
- Toys of China, Vietnam and Thailand pay the 12.5 percent forced labor duty. Toys of India and Indonesia pay 10 percent. Toys of the EU and Taiwan pay 10 percent, and toys of Japan and South Korea 12.5 percent, because their base rate is free.
- Classification matters. A costume can be apparel (chapters 61 and 62) or a festive article (9505), and apparel has high base rates. A child's backpack is not a toy (4202).
Section 301 forced labor duty: 10 or 12.5 percent since July 24, 2026
USTR set an extra duty on goods of 60 economies (HTS 9903.05.20 to 9903.05.84). For example, goods of China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand pay 12.5 percent. Goods of India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the United Kingdom pay 10 percent. Canada and Mexico pay 10 percent, except on goods that enter free under USMCA.
For the EU and Taiwan, the duty tops up the base rate to 10 percent. For Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, it tops up to 12.5 percent. Products listed in U.S. note 52 and goods properly entered under Chapter 98 do not pay it. CBP guidance, CSMS 69326983.
What else changed in 2026
IEEPA duties ended in February 2026. CBP refunds them with interest through CAPE declarations in the ACE Portal. IEEPA refunds.
The 10 percent Section 122 surcharge applied from February 24 to July 24, 2026. Section 301 duties on goods of China and Section 232 duties still apply where the actions say so. Section 301 China duties add to the forced labor duty. Goods under the Section 232 duties on metals, vehicles and parts, wood products and semiconductors do not pay the forced labor duty (9903.05.90).
Checklist
What documents do I need?
Children's Product Certificate data
Product ID (GTIN, SKU or model), each rule certified, the certifier and the records contact. The date and place of manufacture and of testing are also required (16 CFR 1110.11).
Third-party test reports
Reports from a CPSC-accepted lab for ASTM F963-23, lead, phthalates and the other rules that apply.
Tracking label photos
Photos of the permanent marks on the toy and on its package.
Commercial invoice and packing list
Description, age grade, materials, quantity, unit value, and the manufacturer's name and address.
Trademark licenses
If the toy uses a brand or character, the license or written authorization from the owner.
Power of attorney and bond
A signed customs power of attorney and a customs bond. You can sign our power of attorney online.
Holds
What causes holds?
Missing or incomplete eFiling data
ACE accepts the entry, but CPSC can review the entry, reject the CPSC data or hold the goods.Failed lab test
CPSC samples toys at the port. A toy over the lead or phthalate limits, or with small parts for children under 3, can be refused admission.No certificate on request
The importer must show the certificate within 24 hours of a CPSC or CBP request (16 CFR 1110.13).Missing tracking marks or warnings
A toy without tracking marks or the required small-parts warning does not comply and can be held.Counterfeit or unlicensed characters
CBP detains goods that bear a recorded trademark without authorization, and can seize them.Forced labor review
CBP can detain toys under the UFLPA or a withhold release order. The importer must then prove where the goods and their inputs came from.
Process
How do we clear it?
- YouBefore shipping
Send the product file
Send the invoice, the test reports and the certificate data for each toy.
- Allied
Check CPSC rules and classification
We confirm the HTS number and the CPSC rules that apply. We check each certificate data field.
- Allied
Prepare the eFiling data
We send the certificate data in the CPSC message set, or reference your certificate in the CPSC Product Registry.
- AlliedBefore arrival
File the entry
We file the entry in ACE with the CPSC data and the Chapter 99 numbers for the origin.
- You
Answer CPSC or CBP
If CPSC samples the goods or asks for records, send them within the time given. We submit them and follow up.
- AlliedAfter release
Entry summary and duty
We file the entry summary, pay the duty by ACH and keep the entry records.
Request: Toy import clearance and CPSC eFiling
Quote on request
Questions
Importing toys: common questions
What is CPSC eFiling?
Since July 8, 2026, the importer must file certificate data for CPSC-regulated products in ACE when the entry is filed (16 CFR 1110.13). It covers Children's Product Certificates and General Certificates of Conformity. The data can be sent in full, or by reference to a certificate in the CPSC Product Registry.
Who issues the Children's Product Certificate?
The importer, for toys made outside the United States (16 CFR 1110.7). You can rely on tests that the factory arranges, but you stay legally responsible for the certificate (16 CFR 1110.15).
Do toys from China pay Section 301 duties?
Toys in 9503.00.00 are not on the Section 301 China lists. Since July 24, 2026, however, they pay the 12.5 percent Section 301 forced labor duty. Some games and glass ornaments of China also pay 7.5 percent under List 4A.
What does ASTM F963 cover?
ASTM F963-23 is the mandatory toy safety standard (16 CFR Part 1250). It covers mechanical hazards such as sharp edges and small parts, and also magnets, batteries, sound levels and heavy elements in toy materials.
Do small or mail shipments of toys need certificate data?
Yes. De minimis is suspended for all countries, so every commercial shipment needs an entry. For toys imported by mail, the certificate data must be in the CPSC Product Registry before the goods arrive (16 CFR 1110.13).
What is a tracking label?
It is a permanent mark on the toy and its package. It shows the maker or private labeler, the place and date of production, and batch or run data. This lets a recall find the product (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(5)).
Importing toys? Send us the test reports.
Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com
Last reviewed September 26, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.